I want to apologize to my faithful readers and the rest of the “Rabbit” community for being very slow at posting this past week or so. I have had to deal with some household issues that have taken quite a bit of my time and energy. It has also been cold here, and we’ve had some freezing rain, ice, and freezing fog conditions (though nothing like what the midwest has received this week) – which has made it darn near unlikely for me to get out to take more pictures!

Renate Powdermaker, who along with her husband, Alan Powdermaker (an executive with Canada Dry), relocated to Flower Mound, Texas from the eastern seabord and started up the Circle “R” Ranch – located along FM 1171 in Flower Mound. The “R” in the Ranch name is for Renate. The couple divorced in 1997.

Having been born in Germany, she came to the United States in 1951 and graduated from FIT Fashion Institute of New York. Renate spent the last few years of her life in Santa Fe, New Mexico and attended Cathedral Catholic Church. She was survived by three children – David, Jill and Karin; and three grandchildren.

Renate is buried at Round Grove Cemetery in Lewisville, Denton County, Texas.

Since I am a procastinator by nature, I thought it would be a good thing for me to list out the goals I have for the Graveyard Rabbit of South Denton County.

1st Goal: There are two main funeral homes in the Lewisville area and I want to contact each of them and set up interviews. One has been in business for about 60 years and is located in the Historic Downtown section. The other has been operating since 1969. I want to delve into funeral customs and how they have stayed the same or changed over time.

2nd Goal: Take day trips to other cemeteries in the area I cover and not only take photos, but to find out more information about the cemetery – if the graves had been moved from one location to another and why? Does the cemetery have a group that regularly keeps a close eye on it for historical purposes? Is the cemetery divided into sections (veterans, childrens, family plots, etc.)?

3rd Goal: Upload information and photos to Find-a-grave (especially those that haven’t been uploaded)

4th Goal: And this is where you, Dear Reader, helps! If you do not live in the area – and have an ancestor buried in South Denton County – and need more information on the gravestone or other cemetery information – please send an email to me here or through the comments, and I’ll try to help out as much as I can. Or – if you have information on any of the cemeteries or stones that I’ve written about – please send it in! I’ll credit you with the information. If there is something you want to see written about, please let me know and (again), I’ll do the best I can to write on a topic (related to gravestones, cemeteries, funeral homes, and burial customs) that would interest my readers.

I want to thank all of you who have been following the Graveyard Rabbit of South Denton County! I look forward to getting to know my readers a little better this way!

Many of us, Rabbits, have recently cast ballots for a location to hold our first meeting this Spring to formally “kick-off” the Association of Graveyard Rabbits. Congrats to Julie Cahill Tarr – who will be the editor for the Quarterly Journal. A call for submissions has gone out. Please read this post for more information.

I would also like to invite any of my readers – who might not be a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits – to please consider joining! Becoming a member is easy – just go here and see how you too can become one of us!

After Minnie died, William married Jimmie Lee Miller in Denton County, Texas on March 18, 1967. When William died in Dallas County, Texas, on Nov. 21, 1974 he was single.

The 1920 Census for Justice Precinct #3 in Tarrant County, Texas shows Otho (born Texas) living in the household of his parents, Frank L. (born Georgia) and Annie (born Alabama), at age 17. Others in the household include his siblings: Floyd (21), Olga (8), and Charles (2 years and 8 months).

Digital Photo taken on November 1, 2008 by Wendy Littrell. Digital Photo owned by Wendy Littrell (address for private use).

The cemetery that I’ve focused on for the last couple of months has been Round Grove Cemetery in south Lewisville, Denton County, Texas. On December 14th, after attending a Christmas Choir event at the church across the street from the cemetery at Round Grove United Church, what should I see as I strolled to my car?

The Graveyard Rabbit!!! This little critter sat completely still after it hopped through the parking lot. I called after it – “Let me take your picture, little bunny!” and sure enough, it sat and posed!

I’m sure it was the Graveyard Rabbit of South Denton County come to wish us a Merry Christmas!

Leslie C. Bingel was born in New Jersey on December 31, 1897 to August Bingel (spelled Bengel on Leslie’s death certificate) and Hattie Cozzens. He was a Bus Driver with the San Antonio Transit Company. According to the coroner, Mr. Bingel died of acute myelogenous leukemia at 6:30 p.m. on January 20, 1944 at M&S Hospital, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. His place of burial is listed as Roselawn Burial Park in San Antonio. His wife, Malinda, was the informant of record.

So how did his gravestone (with the assumption that he is as well) end up at Round Grove Cemetery in Denton County, Texas? Did his wife or children move to this area and decide that Leslie should be moved as well?

Malinda Bingel (nee Nieman) apparently moved to the Denton County area sometime prior to her death on March 31, 1975. She lived in Lewisville and had a connection with the Round Grove community. Her sister, Hannah Uecker, had married into one of the founding families of Round Grove United Church. Malinda died of acute heart failure at Brookhaven Nursing Home in Farmers Branch, Dallas County, Texas after being a patient for three months. She was buried also at Round Grove Cemetery.

THIEDE
MOTHER FATHER
M.M. Thiede W.M. Thiede
Apr. 22, 1874 Dec. 7, 1866
July 16, 1963 Mar. 17, 1929
Rest in Peace He has gone from his dear
ones
His children, His wife
Whom he willingly toiled
for,
And loved as his life.